The Altadena Rebuild

This week, Austin is joined by Joe Nagy and Stewart Campbell of the Altadena Community Garden. The guys explain how the Garden is starting an innovative new process called mycoremediation and how they hope this approach will allow them to reopen in early 2026. Then, we discuss how homeowners can learn from what's happening at the Garden and bring it to their land -- even before starting construction. Please support them by visiting AltadenaCommunityGarden.com

Today's show is about our connection to our possessions and how they've changed since the wildfire. Our guest is Anna Johnson, local therapist and Eaton Fire victim. Anna helps us explore the relationship between physical objects and the senses, memory, identity, and much more. If you or anyone you know is struggling with mental health in the wake of the fires, please check out this Google Sheet with the contact information of licensed professionals in the area, many of which offer pro bono services for victims - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18ZaBCmuC0vVZ6OjLCHfZeOJ_8B-exIF7QyP8WjbcOGE/edit?usp=sharing

Today, we speak to the real life Leslie Knope. Norma Edith Garcia-Gonzalez is the Director of the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation and she delivered Altadena with it's first true rebuild after the Eaton Fire - Loma Alta Park 2.0. Norma discusses how the Parks Department sprung into action in the wake of the fire, how Loma Alta came together so quickly, and what's next for our parks.

In today's episode, Austin interviews Cynthia Sigler, co-founder of The Foothill Catalog. The Foothill Catalog's mission is to "produce a Catalog of affordable, pre-approved home designs that reflect the character & spirit of [Altadena]." Cynthia goes in detail on that mission and explains where things currently stand with their project - the amount of concepts they have, their partnerships with general contractors, and when LA County will give their designs pre-approved status.Learn more about the Foothill Catalog at www.foothillcatalog.org.

Homeowners Insurance. We all knew we had it, but few of us knew exactly what was inside that policy. Since the Eaton Fire, many have struggled with their insurance company's lack of communication, continued delays, and overall partnership. When these companies get really egregious, attorneys like Renee Callantine from the Cornerstone Law Group step in. In this week's episode, Austin and Renee discuss how to get the most out of your policy, what the future of homeowners insurance in California looks like, and much, much more!

Austin brings on his friend Neil Tyler for an episode about Emotions. Unlike some of the subject matter guests from previous episodes, Neil is in the same boat as Austin - he lost his home and is figuring out how to navigate this new normal. The two discuss their respective journeys through the lens of emotion. We break down different feelings - nostalgia, gratitude, fear, anger, amusement, sadness, joy, and hope - through stories and vignettes of what we have experienced. These tales tell two stories of what the first 120 days are like after losing your home in a wildfire...and all the emotions that come with it.

Wildfire attorneys Courtney Vasquez and Santo Riccobono join the show to discuss with Austin what they have learned the past decade from working cases all over the state against utility companies like PG&E and SoCal Edison. They walk us through what the process looks like signing on with an attorney, how contingency fees work, the upcoming timeline, and much more. To learn more about the work that Courtney and Santo do, visit www.fireattorneys.com.

In this episode, Austin sits down with Altadena realtor and Eaton Fire victim, Peter DiVito. We start with a quick history lesson of the different communities in the San Gabriel foothills before bringing Peter on to discuss the 2010s real estate boom in Altadena, the present state of affairs, and an outlook to what comes next for Altadena.

The Marshall Fire in Boulder, Colorado took out over 1,000 homes in late 2021. One of those belonged to Matt Morris. Matt's background was in construction, so he had a brazen idea - what if I rebuild my dream home...by myself. I ask Matt about his journey but save a lot of time to ask more about the destination. What does it feel like to go from being displaced from your home for two years to moving back into your house? How does it feel? Matt's story is insightful, introspective, and inspiring. Eaton Fire victims will relate to his early days and look forward to one day getting to where Matt and his family ended up - in their beautiful, zero energy, disaster resilient home. Big thanks to Matt for his vulnerability and sharing the story of what his family went through.

In Episode 3, Austin begins by explaining why building brand new homes isn't something most people in the city of Altadena ever thought was on their roadmap. Then he dives into a conversation with Abbie Liel, a leading construction professor at the University of Colorado in Boulder. She runs a team that studies the community rebuilds in towns decimated by wildfires and other natural disasters. We address building disaster resilient homes, what to look for in builders, and much more!

In Episode 2, Austin starts the show by discussing the parallels between 9/11 and the Eaton Fire through the lens of collective grief. Then he is joined by grief expert Vanessa Fierstadt to break down this unique and specific type of grief that the town of Altadena is going through. We do a deep dive on the emotional side of the recovery, and explore how our neighbors can feel so much at once and meet each other where they're at as we look to rebuild our community.

We begin the story of The Altadena Rebuild by having Austin speak with Cal-State Northridge Professor and Eaton Fire victim, Tom Hogen-esch. Tom explains Altadena's obstacles given its Unincorporated status before the two ideate what incorporating or being annexed by Pasadena may look like.

A quick preview of what's to come on The Altadena Rebuild. Austin lays out the vision for the show and why it exists.